I only have two classes on Friday, which gives me an extra hour in the morning to get things done (or lounge around) before I leave for work. The weather was beautiful when I walked out the door, and it was so nice to walk around and enjoy the sunshine.
The train stop I use to get to work is called Higashi (east) Kakogawa. They are totally redoing the area, and the station is completely remodeled. The area around the station is undergoing some serious changes, so it is fun to watch what things they are working on every day. An old lady parked her bike right in the middle of the makeshift path they had made around the construction, and I got to watch her verbally duke it out with a weathered old construction worker. Fight, fight, fight!
As usual during the walk to work I passed college students walking home from school, and I bumped into a few that I knew from Takasago Minami and also a new girl that they introduced me to. She sounds like she is really interested in speaking more English, but I’m not sure if English is where her true interest lies.
Nozaki sensei was at home when I arrived. This is pretty rare – I usually only see her once every week or two despite spending five hours a day in her house. She is getting ready to go to a åˆå®¿ (gasshuku). It’s one of those trips you have to do with your students in an effort to create stronger bonds among the group. She had to go somewhere near Tokyo, so she’ll be taking an overnight bus, spending three days, and then taking an overnight back. Ick.
Kuniko is also doing a åˆå®¿ next week with her tennis club. She has two this year – another one is just before we leave for Hawaii. It’ll be pretty quiet around here starting next week.
During my last class rain started pouring (cats and dogs) and so I ended up having to walk home in the rain. Luckily I had my fold-away umbrella and I at least kept my upper torso and head dry.
Kuniko was waiting for me in the station because she didn’t have an umbrella, so we shared mine and got home reasonably dry. I cooked up some pork steaks that I had marinated in lemon juice and black pepper, and also cooked up some Kraft mac and cheese that I had been craving. Kuniko had kind of a rough day, so we each drank lots of beer, and then decided to walk over to Vivre to do our grocery shopping instead of the nearby Jusco.
The walk back to Vivre was in a torrential rain, but it was far from cold – actually steamy hot – and it was kind of a pleasant experience to walk in. Kuniko and I did some shopping for some of her exchange students who are leaving, and then we got some groceries and came home.
Pretty mellow Friday, actually. Tomorrow and Sunday Kuniko is stuck at work, but at least on Sunday we can go out for dinner. Something to look forward to.
